Hindu Deity Statues

Ganesha, the elephant headed god, is probably the most popular god in the Hindu pantheon. He is the god of wisdom and abundance, and the remover of obstacles. He was the son of Parvati, who instructed him to guard her door as she was bathing. When Lord Shiva came to see Parvati, Ganesha, unaware that Shiva was his father, would not allow him to enter. Shiva became so enraged that he cut off Ganesha's head. Parvati found out, and was deeply distressed, so Shiva offered to replace his head with that of the next living being that came by, which happened to be a baby elephant.

Shiva is encircled by fire and stands on the back of the dwarf of ignorance. In his frenzied dance, he enacts the circle of death and rebrirth, the end of one age and the beginning of the next. With his drum he beats out the pulse of the universe and the beating of the heart.

Krishna is the 8th incarnation of Vishnu. He symbolises truth, devotion, love and joy. As a child, he was playful and mischievous. In his youth he was a favourite of the milkmaids (gopies) with his irresistible charm and beautiful flute music. His favourite was Radha, and the devotion between the two of them symbolises the ideal relation of love between the soul and God.

Kali, "The Dark One" or "Time" is the Hindu Goddess of death and the destroyer of demons. She is considered the most terrifying of all Hindu goddesses. She is said to spring from the forehead of the warrior goddess, Durga, when she is angry.